Barcodes are so ingrained in our daily lives that most of us don’t think about them at all. Every time we check out at a grocery store, scan a QR code at a restaurant, or receive a package on our doorstep, there’s a barcode involved. Behind every tiny set of stripes or pixels lies a story. The story the barcode tells is like the origin story of a character in a novel. Where did the product come from? Who manufactured it? What materials were used? Where has it traveled so far? Where is it going? All this information is passed on through…you guessed it. Barcodes!

National Barcode Day is not well known to many, but to those that know how barcodes have changed our lives, we have grown to truly underappreciate this quiet hero of commerce. We celebrate not just the barcode itself, but the impact it has on people, businesses, and entire industries worldwide. Ask yourself: when’s the last time I used a barcode?

When did you realize how important a barcode was?

We asked several BarTender team members here at Seagull Software to share what their “AHA!” moment was when they realized the importance that barcodes play in our lives. The responses all ranged from the various events and activities that occur in our lives, many of which were done through a mobile phone.

Some of the moments that our team shared were: tracking medical supplies, registering an eSIM, attending events and concerts, flying on an airplane, tracking health and nutrition, and ordering food at restaurants or airport lounges.

Eva said, “Labels are the key to traceability. They allow us to understand a product’s journey from its origin to our hands. Every breath you take, every move you make — labels follow it.” Every time a product moves up or down the supply chain, labels are used to track the progress and location to provide visibility to both the supplier and to the customer. As Shanna said, “Barcodes are everywhere. Barcodes run the world.” From helping restaurants go contactless to helping shippers manage deliveries, they touch every part of the global economy.

Do barcodes have personalities?

When we asked the team to pick a “theme song” for barcodes, they delivered some hilarious and very creative answers.

Here are just a few:

• “TNT” by AC/DC — because barcodes led to the explosive growth of eCommerce.
• “Le Sserafim (르세라핌) Smart” — for making everyone feel a little smarter after each scan.
• “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo — what does that label say?!
• “Somebody's Watching Me” by Rockwell ft. Michael Jackson — labels help us keep an eye on all things moving throughout the supply chain.
• “We Run the World (One Label at a Time)” — our own barcode anthem.
• “That’s the Way (I Like It)” by KC & The Sunshine Band — because who doesn’t like a perfectly scanned label?
• “Every Breath You Take” by The Police — as Eva said, “every breath you take, every move you make,” the barcode follows along the way.
• “I Scan It That Way” — a nod to the Backstreet Boys and the perfect theme for the scanner.
• “Technologic” by Daft Punk — scan it, print it, read it, ship it!
• “We Are the World” — because barcodes truly do touch everything.

Why National Barcode Day?

There’s never been a better time to appreciate the barcode. Every beep at the register and every scan at the warehouse door reminds us that the barcode is not just a simple identifier or a random string or numbers and letters. Barcodes provide a digital identity to products and allow our world to uphold global commerce at scale.

Barcodes empower traceability, drive efficiency, and help companies reduce waste and errors. Whether they help you check out faster, restock shelves, or track a shipment across the ocean, barcodes are working hard for you, often without you even realizing it.

So, this National Barcode Day, join us in celebrating these tiny but mighty tools. Give a nod to the barcode on your coffee cup or shipping box. And remember: barcodes might be small, but they sure do make a large impact!